A Study of the commands from our Lord, Jesus the Christ

Week 13, February 22nd

Consider the following "commands" from Jesus:

"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened." Matthew 7:7-8 (NASB)

And the same passage from the Gospel of Luke:

"So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it will be opened." Luke 11:9-10 (NASB)

Both passages contain three commands: Ask, seek, and knock.

The tour will examine each command over the next few weeks. This week's stop is the command "Ask". The link takes you to the bottom of this page where the Greek word and definition are printed.

"ASK". There are no limits placed on this command. You are commanded to "ask". As your tour guide I would like to point out that if you LOVE Jesus, then you will obey His commandments (see John 14:21 (NASB) ) .

AND

Before you trot out your "wish" list, please consider the following:

This command is NOT for everyone. In both passages, Jesus is speaking to his disciples (see Matthew 5:1 (NASB) and Luke 11:1 (NASB) ) This command is for disciples. To those individuals that have accepted Jesus as their savior. To everyone that believes that Jesus' death on the cross paid the debt they never could (see Hebrews 7:27 (NASB)).

Jesus gave this command in context of how to "pray to the Father" (see Matthew 6:6 (NASB) and Luke 11:2 (NASB))

Do not miss this point. Jesus is commanding you, as a disciple, to go to the Father, the LORD GOD creator of the Universe, and "ASK". Jesus poses the question: Since earthly fathers know how give their children good gifts don't you think your Heavenly Father will give you even more? (see Matthew 7:11 (NASB))

Two more points; First, take an inventory of the "good gifts" you already have received as a disciple of Jesus:
-Adoption into the family (see Ephesians 1:5 (NASB))
-eternal life (see John 5:24 (NASB))
-every Spiritual Blessing (see Ephesians 1:3 (NASB))
-the indwelling of the Holy Spirit (see 1 Corinthians 3:16 (NASB))

I can list more and so can you.

Second, before you "ASK" the Father consider these verses:
-ASK in faith (see James 1:6 (NASB))
-ASK with the correct motives (see James 4:3 (NASB))
-ASK with thanksgiving (see Philippians 4:6 (NASB))

What about the receive part? The command is "Ask, and 'it will be given' to you."

The Greek word used for the phrase 'it will be given' is "didōmi". It means "to give".

AND

Jesus makes it quite clear in verse 11 of Matthew 7 that when you ask your 'Father which is in heaven' you need to understand 'how much more' your Father knows how to give good gifts.

The point I am trying to make is this when you "ASK" your Father for 'something', remember Who you are asking and while it may not be exactly what you have requested the Father will provide you with a good gift that is so much more than you asked.

One final thought; Consider the words of our LORD:
"Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask the Father for anything in My name, He will give it to you." (see John 16:23 (NASB))

That phrase "in my name" is the Greek word "onoma," which carries the idea of EVERYTHING you believe Jesus is.

If you have any other questions for me please send me an email.

The tour continues next week with a look at the command: "To Seek".

Here are the Greek definitions for Ask, Seek, and Knock:

The Greek word that Jesus used for "ask" is "aiteō"
Strong's Number G154 matches the Greek αἰτέω (aiteō), which occurs 71 times in 67 verses in the Greek concordance of the NASB.

Strong defines "aiteō" as: to ask, beg, call for, crave, desire, require. Back

The Greek word that Jesus used for "seek" is "zēteō"
Strong's Number G2212 matches the Greek ζητέω (zēteō), which occurs 119 times in 112 verses in the Greek concordance of the NASB.

Strong defines "zēteō" as: to seek (literally or figuratively); specially, (by Hebraism) to worship (God), or (in a bad sense) to plot (against life):—be (go) about, desire, endeavour, enquire (for), require, (X will) seek (after, for, means). Back

The Greek word that Jesus used for "knock" is "krouō"
Strong's Number G2925 matches the Greek κρούω (krouō), which occurs 9 times in 9 verses in the Greek concordance of the NASB.

Strong defines "krouō" as: to rap:—knock. Back

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